Unveiling the Post-Digital Paradigm Cultural Implications in a Post-Human Design Ecology

In recent years, the concept of intelligence has become a popular term that accompanies various actions, practices, processes, and products. This prominent presence in contemporary discussions stems from two significant factors. Firstly, there has been a fundamental shift in our understanding- ing of intelligence. It is no longer seen solely as a quality exclusive to humans but rather as a collection of emerging properties and conditions that can exist in both human and non-human entities. Secondly, intelligence is now viewed as a multi-layered relationship between a ‘brain’ (whether human or non-human), a body, and the environment(s) in which that body exists. Presently, intelligence encompasses all aspects of design, introducing a new form of design intelligence that differs greatly from the human-centered approaches of the past. Similarly, creativity is no longer solely attributed to the human brain. Its definition has expanded to include the operational value of novel abstractions and pattern associations generated through machine-driven thinking processes. Architects are now exploring various “intelligent” tools such as different AI languages, generative adversarial networks and text-to-image tools to understand how non-human intelligence can be applied to address contemporary issues in cities and urban centers, and considering also the ex- expected benefits and the possible risks originating from their use. The paper aims to investigate the emergence of a post-digital sensibility in architecture and seeks to delve– through theoretical and practical approaches - the notion of creativity and intelligence in a post-human design ecology while demystifying the so-called ‘risks’ associated with the utilization of Neural Network processes in design. Furthermore, it aims to assess the extent to which these processes can inform architectural design for today’s challenges.